Calling device.



HENRY P. GLAUSEN, OF MOUNT VERNON, NEW YORK, ASSIGNOR TO WESTERN ELEC- TRIO COMPANY, INCORPORATED, OF NEW YORK, N. Y., A CORPORATION OF NEW YORK.

CALLING DEVICE.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, HENRY I. CLAUSEN, a citizen of the United States, residing at Mount Vernon, in the county of \Vestchester and State of New York, have invented certain new and useful. Improvements in Callin Devices. of which the following is a full. clear, concise, and exact description.

This invention relates to improvements in calling devices, and more particularly to impulse transmitters for automatic and semi-automatic telephone systems.

The satisfactory operation of the central ol'lice apparatus in an automatic telephone system is dependent upon the normal operation of the substation calling device or impulse" transmitter. In many types of calling devices, a manually-operahle member is op erated by the subscriber, once for each digit of the number called, and in returning to normal permits the mechanism to send out impulses corresponding to the digit for which the device was operated. The rate at which the manuallyoperable niember returns to normal governs the rate at which the signaling impulses are sent, and for the successful operation oi? the central station.

apparatus this rate should not be altered by the subscriber. It sometimes happens, however, that satisfactory operation of the calling device is interfered with by the subscribers forcing the manually operable member in its movement back to its normal position instead of. allowing it to return at its natural rate. This is particularly liable to occur when the desired number has two successive digits which are the same; because the subscriber then is liable to leave his finger in engagement with the selected finger hold and to force the manually-operable member back to its normal position.

The object of the present invention is to provide a new and improved calling device in which the return movement of the manually-operable member cannot be hastened. In general, a calling device embodying the present invention is characterized by a manually operable member having finger holds mounted thereon. which are unyielding in the direction of operative movement and are yielding in the opposite direction.

-The present invention is applicable to calling devices of many types. For the purpose of; illustration, it is herein shown as applied to a calling device of the dial type,

Specification of Letters Patent.

Application filed August 30, 1916,

Patented Jan. 2, on.

Serial No. 117,621.

such as is shown, for example, in the patent to O. F. Forsberg, No=. 1,161,854 dated November 20, 1915.

In the drawing, Figure l is a plan view of the calling device having the present invention embodied therein, certain parts being broken away to show details of construction; and Fig. 2 is a side elevation thereof.

Referring to the drawing, the interior mechanism of the calling device is inclosed within the casing 3. As this mechanism forms no part of the present invention, it need not be described further than to say that the shaft by which it is operated projects from said casing and is shown as terminating in a head 4. The manually-operable member, in which the present invention is embodied, is secured to thisshat't and rotates with it. This manually-operable member comprises a body portion 5 in the form of a disk secured beneath the head 4 to the shaft of the mechanism. Movably mounted on the periphery of said body portion 5 are finger holds 6 which may be of the form shown. Said finger holds are pivotally supported on pivot pins 7 secured to the body portion 5 and are limited as to rotation in the direction of operative move ment of the body portion 5 by stops 8 in the form of pins also secured to the body portion 5 near theperiphery thereof. A spring 9, which may surround each pivot pin 7 and may coiiperate with each stop 8 and with the heel 10 of the corresponding finger hold 6, serves to yieldingly maintain each finger hold in its normal position in enga gement with its corresponding stop 8. The finger hold is thus held unyieldingly in the direction of operative movement and yieldingly in the opposite direction. Below the manually-operal; le memberis the number plate l2.which may be secured to and be rotatable with the shaft of the mechanism, after the manner described in the patent to O. F. Forsberg hereinbefore mentioned, or may be stationary after the manner of other styles of calling devices of this same general type. A stop 13 is shown secured to casing 3 and arranged to limit the movements of the manually-operable member in the Wellknown manner. P

The calling device above described is operated by placing a finger in engagement with the finger hold which partially empulses, and by then rotating the manually-.

operable member in the direction of the arrow until the finger engages the stop 13. The finger is then removed and the manually-operable member returns to normal position under the influence of the impulsesending mechanism. If the subscriber does not remove his finger from engagement with the finger hold after he has engaged the stop 13 and tries to force the manually-operable member in its return movement by pressing against the back of the adjacent finger hold 6, the latter will yield and the force exerted will be expended in overcoming the effect of the cooperating spring 5) and not in ac celerating the. return movement of the manually-operable member. Of course, if he persists in attempting to force the device backward, his finger will depress one finger hold after another, still without exerting force in a backward direction upon the body portion 5 of the manually-operable member. In this manner, backwardforcing of the calling device is effectively prevented.

Vhat is claimed is:

,1. In a calling device, a mannally-operable member comprising a. body portion. finger holds movably mounted thereon, and means for. holding said finger holds unyieldingly' upon the body portion in the direction of operative movement and yieldilngly in the opposite direction.

In a calling device, a' nmnually-operable member comprising a body portion,

finger holds pivotally mounted thereon, and means for holding said finger holds unyieldingly upon the body portion in the direction of ope -ative movement and yieldingly in the-opposite direction.

In a calling device, a manually-operable member comprising a rotatable body portion, finger holds pivotally mounted thereon, and means for holding said finger holds unyieldingly upon the body portion in the direction of operative movement and .yieldingly in the opposite direction.

1'. In a calling device, a manually-operable member comprising a body portion, finger holds pivotally mounted thereon, stops on said body portion cooperating with said linger holds and limiting their movement upon the body portion in the direction of operative movement of said body portion, and springs cooperating vvitli said finger holds and yieldingly holding them in enga ement with said stops.

o. In a calling device, a manually-oper able member comprising a rotatable disk, linger holds pivotally mounted on said disk n ar the periphery thereof. stops on said disk cooperating with said finger holds and limiting their movement upon the disk in the direction of operative movement of said disk, aml springs cooperating with said finger holds and yieldingly holding them in engagement with said stops.

In witness whereof, I hereunto subscribe my name this 28th day of August, A. D. 1916. HENRY I. GLAUSEN. 

